The government has abolished a driveway rule for all homes in England, a move that will benefit anyone considering switching from petrol and diesel cars to electric vehicles (EVs). Going forward, planning permission will no longer be required to install chargepoints for EVs.
Government Lifts Planning Permission Rule
The Labour Party government has lifted the planning permission rule and scrapped it entirely, giving homeowners greater flexibility and reducing bureaucratic hurdles. This change is part of the government's ongoing plan to phase out diesel and petrol cars, with combustible engines set to be banned from 2030. The ban was initially delayed by the Conservative Party to 2035 but has now been reinstated to 2030 after a Labour adjustment.
Ministerial Statement
Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, commented: "We're cutting down on paperwork to power up the EV revolution so that drivers, businesses, and those looking to make the switch will have more chargepoints to power from and less red tape to deal with. We continue to make the switch to EVs easier, cheaper, and better by investing over £2.3 billion to support drivers and back British carmakers through international trade deals – creating jobs, boosting investment, and securing our future as part of our Plan for Change."
Industry Reaction
AMP EV said: "This is a significant step forward in the UK's EV rollout. The Government's new rules are designed to speed up installations, reduce costs, and cut red tape — making it easier for everyone to make the switch to electric." The changes mean faster and cheaper installation of EV chargers, no planning permission required for most locations, and a boost in public, workplace, and residential charge points.
Pybus Recruitment also praised the move, stating: "Implemented as part of an effort to accelerate the rollout of EV chargers across the UK, these changes are likely to benefit business owners, as well as households with on-street parking the most, given that homes with off-street parking have long largely escaped the burden of having to apply for planning permission. Now, firms looking to install so-called EV charging hubs will be able to get shovels in the ground much more quickly than before, with some previous projects having been delayed by more than half a year due to sluggish response times."
Concerns and Considerations
The AA's head of road policy, Jack Cousens, welcomed the news but added: "The crucial element is ensuring grid connection in a timely manner. This is especially important in rural locations and areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking." The SMMT's chief executive, Mike Hawes, emphasized the need to "prioritise grid connections, alongside reform to planning and action on energy costs, would reduce barriers to adoption."
